A theoretical study is conducted for the design of solar air heaters using porous material. Radiative characteristics of glazing and porous absorbing media are found through spectral transmittances measured by the Visible spectrometer and the FT-IR. Using those characteristics the efficiencies of collectors are calculated one-dimensionally with the use of the Two-Flux radiation model. The efficiencies increase, as the air flow rates or albedos in the visible range increase, and as albedos in the IR range decrease. The optimum thickness of the porous medium of 15-mesh stainless steel wire screens is 0.001m, which represents the opacity of one.